WSR Part 2: Expanding into Europe – GRID 2

Codemasters has announced a host of newcars, locations and racing clubs set to feature in GRID 2™ when it launches on May 31. In addition to revealing high performance European vehicles, including those from the game’s Super Touring Car class, Codemasters also released a gameplay video showcasing highlights of GRID 2’s European races.

The ‘GRID 2: European Expansion’ video focuses on the European cars, clubs and locations. In Road Races on the Côte d’Azur, players speed through tunnels cut into sheer rock and tackle the climbs, plunges and hairpins set amongst some of the most stunning scenery in the world.

The Street Racing category is showcased in central Paris, which comes alive to the sound of roaring engines as cars blast down its magnificent boulevards, sling-shot around the Arc D’Triumph and speed past the Eiffel Tower. Track Racing is represented at the Algarve International Circuit in Portugal which makes its console debut in GRID 2. Commonly known as Portimao Circuit, this state of the art, $250M track was opened in 2008 and has quickly gained a reputation as one of the most exciting circuits in motorsport, with constantly undulating asphalt and wide areas built for overtaking.

The ‘GRID 2: European Expansion’ video also reveals two of the four Touring Cars in competition. In the Super Touring Cars class, the Volvo S60 BTCS – one of the premiere performers in the BTCS and Volvo’s flagship racer – goes wheel-to-wheel with the Gomez Competition, a motorsport thoroughbred custom developed by GC Automotive in Herault in the South of France, with performance that rivals cars from global manufacturers.

Additional Touring Cars in the game include the BMW Motorsport 320 TC – the latest evolution of the car that Andy Priaulx drove to two championships – and the Chevrolet Cruze Touring car, which secured wins in both the WTCC and British Touring Car Championship in 2010, proving this American marquee could compete with the best in the world.

The individual character of every car is brought to life through GRID 2’s groundbreaking TrueFeel™ handling system. Drawing on expertise from professional motorsports drivers and Codemasters’ 15 year heritage in creating award-winning racing games, TrueFeel™ handling lets players feel what it’s like to drive some of the most exciting cars in existence.

GRID 2, the long-awaited sequel to the BAFTA-award winning, critically acclaimed Race Driver: GRID™, will race into retail on May 31 for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and Windows® PC and is available for pre-order now.

GRID 2 will challenge players to be fast, be first and be famous. Going behind the wheel of a handpicked selection of automotive icons spanning four decades, gamers will race their way to the top of a new, evolving world of motorsport. From Paris to Abu Dhabi, Chicago to the sun-kissed California coast and beyond, beautifully created city streets, licensed circuits and edge-of-control mountain roads will become home to the most visceral and exhilarating racing yet.

In the game, players will compete in the WorldSeries Racing, the new competition founded by fictional entrepreneur Patrick Callahan, where drivers from different disciplines compete against each other across a range of events to find the ultimate racer. To get the series off the ground and attract attention from the world’s media, players must compete against and recruit the best drivers from the best racing clubs from different disciplines across the world, including Track racers, Drift specialists, Street racers and more.

GRID 2 will also set new standards for a racing multiplayer experience with an entirely distinct and extensive gameplay component and unique progression system. Deep customisation options and integration with RaceNet – the online community portal for Codemasters Racing games which tracks player’s races, rewards and rivals – will offer further immersion and connectivity in GRID 2’s new world of motorsport.